Gena Rowlands, renowned for her compelling performances in ‘A Woman Under the Influence’ and as the elderly Allie in ‘The Notebook’, has passed away at the age of 94. She died at her home in Indian Wells, CA, surrounded by family.
The cause of death was not disclosed, but Rowlands had been dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, which echoed the role she portrayed in her films.
Rowlands retired from acting in 2015 after receiving four Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, and two Oscar nominations. Her Oscar nominations were for ‘A Woman Under the Influence’ and ‘Gloria’, both of which were the result of collaborations with her late husband, John Cassavetes.
The couple significantly influenced American independent cinema with their distinctive, hands-on approach to filmmaking.
‘A Woman Under the Influence’ was initiated by Rowlands, who aimed to explore the struggles of American women in their personal lives and relationships.
Unable to secure funding, they mortgaged their home and borrowed money from relatives and friends to produce the film. They filmed it in a real Hollywood residence rather than a conventional studio, with a crew partly composed of AFI students.
Rowlands won Primetime Emmys for her roles in ‘The Betty Ford Story’, ‘Face of a Stranger’, and ‘Hysterical Blindness’, and a Daytime Emmy for ‘The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie’. She also received five additional Emmy nominations, starting with her 1985 role in ‘An Early Frost’ as the mother of a young man with AIDS.
Her son, director and actor Nick Cassavetes, discussed his mother’s role in ‘The Notebook’, noting that her portrayal of Alzheimer’s was particularly poignant given her personal experience with the disease. Her grandmother also suffered from Alzheimer’s.
Born in Cambria, Wisconsin, Rowlands began her career in regional theater before making her Broadway debut in ‘The Seven Year Itch’. She later starred in the Broadway play ‘Middle of the Night’ alongside Edward G. Robinson and appeared in various TV series and guest spots.
Rowlands and Cassavetes worked together on ten films, including ‘Faces’ and ‘Gloria’, for which she received Best Actress Oscar nominations. She was married to Cassavetes from April 9, 1954, until his death on February 3, 1989.
She is survived by her current husband, Robert, and her children, Nick, Alexandra, and Zoe Cassavetes.
